Nuclear energy is produced through splitting atoms. When atoms are split, they produce large amounts of energy. It has been found that splitting the atoms of uranium and plutonium in a controlled environment does not produce a nuclear explosion. The controlled energy from the nuclear reaction is used to heat water. The water then turns into steam and spins large turbines, generating electricity. The water vapor is cooled by cold water and reused in the system again. The vapor seen emitting from nuclear power plants is vaporized cooling water.
Above is a diagram of a nuclear power plant.
Pros
Earth has a limited amount of coal and oil, nuclear is an available and long term energy source.
Needs less fuel than other plants powered by coal and natural gas (1 ton of uranium produces more energy than 1 ton of coal).
No Co2 emissions.
Cons
Very expensive (upwards of 5-10 billion dollars)
Dangerous waste (radioactive)
Threat of terrorist attack on power plant.
Reactors can only be operational for 40-50 years.
The general use of radioactive materials is very hazardous.
3 Mile Island Incident
Pictured above, Homer Simpson caused the 3 Mile Island Incident.
The 3 Mile Island Incident occurred at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. On March 28, 1979, the plant experienced a near-meltdown caused by a lack of coolant in the nuclear reactor. Both manufacture and human error are credited for the incident. The near-meltdown resulted in small amounts of released radiation. The amount released is so small that the government claims it will cause no negative health effects to people working in the plant or present in the area at the time of the disaster.
Above is the 3 Mile Island power plant and surrounding countryside in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Chernobyl Incident
On April 26, 1986 the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine (then a member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) experienced a complete meltdown (aka a large explosion) resulting in the release of large amounts of radioactivity.
The meltdown was caused primarily by human error but also a flaw in the design of control rods, which regulates the energy output by the uranium. The rods broke off, resulting in the extremely quick overheating of the nuclear reactor and ultimately resulting in an explosion.
Immediately following the explosion, a concrete box (sarcophagus) was constructed in an effort to prevent the spread of nuclear radiation as well as allow the other reactors to remain operational. The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant remained operational until 2000.
Above is a map Pripyat, Ukraine (northwest of the lake) and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (off the northwestern shore of the lake). Zoom in for a better view.
Above is pictured the destroyed nuclear reactor (reactor #4) immediately after the explosion.
Reactor #4 after construction of the sarcophagus.
Nuclear contamination (fallout) devastated the entire region. Many small towns such as Pripyat were evacuated and still remain deserted due high levels of radioactivity.
Above is pictured radiation readings for the Chernobyl region in 1996, 10 years after the disaster.
The city of Pripyat has been deserted since 1986. It has been featured in many computer games, notably Call of Duty 4 and STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl.
Consequences of the Chernobyl Disaster
56 fatalities from the plant explosion on April 26, 1986
800,000 estimated received exposure to radiation
Of those exposed 100,000 estimated fatal cancer cases
Widespread fear of nuclear power as an energy source.
Imagine if this happened in Atlanta or another major American city?
Current Events
Georgia
Georgia is currently in the process of adding two new nuclear reactors to the other nuclear plants at Plant Vogtle. This will be the first construction of one in the United States for the past 30 years. It is to be completed and ready for operation by 2017.
As said before, a nuclear power plant is a huge investment, so in order to pay for this Obama is giving Georgia a loan and the citizens of Georgia are expected to have a 9% increase (that will phase in over a seven year period) on their current electric bills starting in the year 2011.
Although some people question their decision to build a new one, all the citizens that will be living nearest to it are actually for the idea since they have not experienced any problems with the current one.
Some pros to this includes the creation of more jobs for the people in Atlanta and the idea of nuclear energy as an alternative energy source that does not contribute to the pollution of our environment. Unlike other alternative sources, nuclear energy is limited by the weather, such as solar and wind power.
"Georgia depends heavily on fossil fuels, particularly coal, to meet its energy needs and is also home to two large nuclear power plants. Renewable energy sources are a growing popularity in the state. The first major wind plant in the southeast U.S is planned for a site off the coast of Savannah, while huge investments have been made for the use of renewable biomass, providing a sizeable portion of the state’s electricity generation."
-State of Georgia Department of Energy
France
As of 2003, France receives 85% of their energy from nuclear power plants. France as a nation is aiming to become self-reliant and independent from foreign exports, exemplified by their switch to expensive nuclear energy in the past 40 years. France also nationalizes health care and other industries that are more commonly privatized in the US, so it is not a surprise that they opt to invest in a more expensive but eco-friendly and long term power source than the US, which values low prices for maximum gain.
United States
After the 3 Mile Island Incident, the American public is wary to invest in nuclear power from social safety standpoint, especially now since America is under constant terror threat. Another hidden consequence of nuclear power is the "out-of-pocket" cost for energy. Consumers would have to pay more for nuclear energy, which many would say violates American values at its core. Americans also live a different lifestyle than that of Europeans. Americans tend to live in larger houses, drive larger cars, and use more electricity per family than Europeans. There is simply no support from the mainstream public from a safety standpoint as well as a social standpoint to allow a switch from coal-based power plants to nuclear power plants. As long as cheap coal power and other cheap energy sources are available, a switch to nuclear power is extremely unlikely.
Nuclear Power
Table of Contents
A nuclear power plant as seen from Springfield.How it Works
Nuclear energy is produced through splitting atoms. When atoms are split, they produce large amounts of energy. It has been found that splitting the atoms of uranium and plutonium in a controlled environment does not produce a nuclear explosion. The controlled energy from the nuclear reaction is used to heat water. The water then turns into steam and spins large turbines, generating electricity. The water vapor is cooled by cold water and reused in the system again. The vapor seen emitting from nuclear power plants is vaporized cooling water.
Above is a diagram of a nuclear power plant.
Pros
Earth has a limited amount of coal and oil, nuclear is an available and long term energy source.Needs less fuel than other plants powered by coal and natural gas (1 ton of uranium produces more energy than 1 ton of coal).
No Co2 emissions.
Cons
Very expensive (upwards of 5-10 billion dollars)Dangerous waste (radioactive)
Threat of terrorist attack on power plant.
Reactors can only be operational for 40-50 years.
The general use of radioactive materials is very hazardous.
3 Mile Island Incident
Pictured above, Homer Simpson caused the 3 Mile Island Incident.
The 3 Mile Island Incident occurred at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. On March 28, 1979, the plant experienced a near-meltdown caused by a lack of coolant in the nuclear reactor. Both manufacture and human error are credited for the incident. The near-meltdown resulted in small amounts of released radiation. The amount released is so small that the government claims it will cause no negative health effects to people working in the plant or present in the area at the time of the disaster.
Above is the 3 Mile Island power plant and surrounding countryside in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Chernobyl Incident
On April 26, 1986 the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine (then a member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) experienced a complete meltdown (aka a large explosion) resulting in the release of large amounts of radioactivity.The meltdown was caused primarily by human error but also a flaw in the design of control rods, which regulates the energy output by the uranium. The rods broke off, resulting in the extremely quick overheating of the nuclear reactor and ultimately resulting in an explosion.
Immediately following the explosion, a concrete box (sarcophagus) was constructed in an effort to prevent the spread of nuclear radiation as well as allow the other reactors to remain operational. The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant remained operational until 2000.
Above is a map Pripyat, Ukraine (northwest of the lake) and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (off the northwestern shore of the lake). Zoom in for a better view.
Above is pictured the destroyed nuclear reactor (reactor #4) immediately after the explosion.
Reactor #4 after construction of the sarcophagus.
Nuclear contamination (fallout) devastated the entire region. Many small towns such as Pripyat were evacuated and still remain deserted due high levels of radioactivity.
Above is pictured radiation readings for the Chernobyl region in 1996, 10 years after the disaster.
The city of Pripyat has been deserted since 1986. It has been featured in many computer games, notably Call of Duty 4 and STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl.
Consequences of the Chernobyl Disaster
56 fatalities from the plant explosion on April 26, 1986
800,000 estimated received exposure to radiation
Of those exposed 100,000 estimated fatal cancer cases
Widespread fear of nuclear power as an energy source.
Imagine if this happened in Atlanta or another major American city?
Current Events
Georgia
Georgia is currently in the process of adding two new nuclear reactors to the other nuclear plants at Plant Vogtle. This will be the first construction of one in the United States for the past 30 years. It is to be completed and ready for operation by 2017.As said before, a nuclear power plant is a huge investment, so in order to pay for this Obama is giving Georgia a loan and the citizens of Georgia are expected to have a 9% increase (that will phase in over a seven year period) on their current electric bills starting in the year 2011.
Although some people question their decision to build a new one, all the citizens that will be living nearest to it are actually for the idea since they have not experienced any problems with the current one.
Some pros to this includes the creation of more jobs for the people in Atlanta and the idea of nuclear energy as an alternative energy source that does not contribute to the pollution of our environment. Unlike other alternative sources, nuclear energy is limited by the weather, such as solar and wind power.
"Georgia depends heavily on fossil fuels, particularly coal, to meet its energy needs and is also home to two large nuclear power plants. Renewable energy sources are a growing popularity in the state. The first major wind plant in the southeast U.S is planned for a site off the coast of Savannah, while huge investments have been made for the use of renewable biomass, providing a sizeable portion of the state’s electricity generation."
-State of Georgia Department of Energy
France
As of 2003, France receives 85% of their energy from nuclear power plants. France as a nation is aiming to become self-reliant and independent from foreign exports, exemplified by their switch to expensive nuclear energy in the past 40 years. France also nationalizes health care and other industries that are more commonly privatized in the US, so it is not a surprise that they opt to invest in a more expensive but eco-friendly and long term power source than the US, which values low prices for maximum gain.United States
After the 3 Mile Island Incident, the American public is wary to invest in nuclear power from social safety standpoint, especially now since America is under constant terror threat. Another hidden consequence of nuclear power is the "out-of-pocket" cost for energy. Consumers would have to pay more for nuclear energy, which many would say violates American values at its core. Americans also live a different lifestyle than that of Europeans. Americans tend to live in larger houses, drive larger cars, and use more electricity per family than Europeans. There is simply no support from the mainstream public from a safety standpoint as well as a social standpoint to allow a switch from coal-based power plants to nuclear power plants. As long as cheap coal power and other cheap energy sources are available, a switch to nuclear power is extremely unlikely.CNN Report
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/02/22/brand.nuclear.power.pro/index.html?hpt=C2